Developing Content Ideas to Reach Outdoor Enthusiasts
Now what? It’s common to find yourself wondering “what direction should I take?” as you choose your next outdoor sports content topic, whether you’ve just started incorporating content in your marketing efforts or you’ve been doing it for a while now. Maybe you’re planning a blog post, an article, a video, or some other type…
Read MoreTiming Matters – What Day Do You Send a Press Release?
What is the best day to send a press release? That is one of the most popular questions people ask PR pros – especially from the people that think PR is just writing and sending releases. You can ask 100 PR professionals this question and get 100 different answers. At least one-third, typically the most-experienced…
Read MoreThe Media Mix
When going on a fishing trip what type of bait do you use? It typically depends on what type of fish and where you are fishing. Publishing information for your target audience is the same way. By knowing how your audience obtains information you can use the correct ‘bait’ to present your information. Media is…
Read MoreTop 5 Reasons to Have an Agency Handle Your Media
Media has come a long way since the early days of print media prior to the Revolutionary War. In today’s society, the different forms of media are changing with the change of how people consume their news on a daily basis. Newspapers, magazines, radio, TV, emails, blogs, social media, pay-per-click, Google Adwords, programmatic, retargeting, billboards,…
Read MoreUsing a Brand Platform to Help You Make Your Business Stand Out
Whether you’re just starting out, re-engineering your business, or growing an already successful company, a brand platform is an important tool to help you differentiate yourself from others in your field. By focusing on your brand positioning, you can make this drive your communications with your target markets. Communication happens in a variety of ways,…
Read MoreMaking the Most of Tradeshows and Conferences
We’ve all heard the sayings “It’s not what you know, it’s who you know,” or “You can’t have too many friends,” or “If you want to go fast go alone, and if you want to go far go with others.” These are all very true. In business, the contacts we create and maintain are essential…
Read MoreLike A Girl
About a month ago I noticed a new advertising campaign that Always, a Proctor and Gamble company, produced titled, #LikeAGirl, and naturally I was curious. Growing up, I had heard this phrase several times around friends, school mates, and from coaches. This campaign has emphasized the importance that phrases and words can have in advertising…
Read MoreCapitalizing on the Swirls with Facebook
I have always enjoyed going out to our family farm ponds and feeding the catfish. It doesn’t take long once that first handful of pelletized floating catfish food hits the water for there to be a few fish swirling around, enjoying a snack. Once the second handful hits the water, there’s a few more. After…
Read MoreWhy is the World Cup so Popular?
Over the last few days, the World Cup soccer fever has taken hold. Thousands of spectators, and in some cases, crazy fanatics, are crowding into bars, outdoor venues and of course Brazil to cheer their country’s teams on to victory. I’ve been a soccer fan forever and have always enjoyed watching World Cup games that…
Read MoreBrand Confusion to Brand Consistency
You cannot escape the power of the brand. Whether you’re the type that only buys “brand name” products or you simply don’t care, brands are everywhere. No matter where you go you and your family are reminded of, enticed by, and sold on brands. The brand is powerful because it tells a story. It tells…
Read MoreHow Clear is Your Marketing Message?
Is your marketing message clear enough to speak to your target audience without bogging them down with too much info? This blog may help. Whether or not you know it, you are always communicating with your customers and potential customers. Your marketing message is a 24-hour a day communication tool that is out there to…
Read MoreDress for the job you want, NOT the job you have
We have all heard this famous quote before, and although it may be overplayed or even a bit cliché now, this saying holds a lot of meaning, and not just in a literal sense. The saying does emphasize the importance of dressing for the job you want. And that is not saying that your current…
Read MoreWhat's Your Competitive Advantage?
Recently, I read a quote by Michael Porter who said, “Competitive strategy is about being different. It means deliberately choosing a different set of activities to deliver a unique mix of value.” I couldn’t agree more, but determining your competitive advantage can be challenging to do. Here are some questions you might ask yourself or…
Read MoreBack to the Basics for Advertising
There’s been a lot of exciting changes and opportunities for advertisers over the last 5 years. Think about how Facebook, LinkedIn, Google, re-targeting and other new avenues for communication have sprung up. Are they all important for your business? Maybe. They’re all effective, just like newspaper, radio and TV advertising are all still effective. It’s just important…
Read MoreTalk to Strangers
Forget everything your parents taught you. OK, that’s a bit extreme, but it may be time to part with one bit of parental advice. “Don’t talk to strangers” was no doubt sound advice when we were kids, and it still is for today’s youth. But as business people, the psychological remnants of that advice can…
Read MoreEmail Newsletter Analytics
More and more companies are distributing newsletters via email to their customers and prospects. Surprisingly, some companies are not tracking anything but the most basic results. With each mailing we send, we review the available statistics for insights into our customer base, and you should be doing that, too. What metrics can an effective e-letter…
Read MoreA Powerful Trade Show
Recently I spent a week in Baltimore at the annual Electric Power trade show. It was my third time attending the event, which is a show geared to utilities, independent power producers, equipment and service providers. I was there representing ProEnergy Services. As their marketing partner, we help them prepare for the show by designing…
Read MoreThe Four P’s for Trade Show Success: Plan-Prepare-Participate-Pay off
Since 9/11, companies have taken a closer look at business travel. Trade Show attendance certainly took a big hit, but a comeback is underway. Are your customers attending trade shows again, and if so, are you putting them back on your marketing plan? If you are, now is the good time to revisit your trade…
Read MoreSocial Media and Full Disclosure
One great benefit of social media is its ability to gives the average consumer a real voice regarding a product or service. You may or may not like that new gizmo, or think it’s great but too expensive. Whatever your thoughts, you can easily find an Internet outlet to share them. And now, thanks to…
Read MoreWould You Like Butter on Your Kern?
Kerning, leading, tracking, orphans, widows… Do these terms leave you puzzled? Unless you’re a professional designer, these terms may seem like a foreign language. With the prevalence of computers, many users now crank out their own newsletters and flyers, so it’s time to learn a little about the art of typography. First things first. The…
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